Since its launch more than four years ago, Aerotech's A3200 Digital Automation Platform has been refined and improved with several new features for simplified integration and reduced cost of multi axis motion and machine control systems. Covering these enhancements and with a detailed overview of its latest range of NDrive® servo and stepper drives, high performance direct-drive motors and positioning systems, Aerotech have released a new 32 page brochure available in hard copy or PDF format.
Aerotech's A3200 Digital Automation Platform is a PC based software only machine and motion and control system. With decentralised drives interfaced via an IEEE-1394 Firewire® network and linked machine control function modules such as HMI and soft PLC available, the A3200 provides a completely integrated solution for up to 32 motion axes and with an expansion capability to 64 axes. Programming and software development tools allow the Automation 3200 to be programmed in native RS274 G-code with an optional software development kit used to program the unit with ActiveX based components as well as other languages including C, C++, VisualBasic® and LabviewTM . The distributed control architecture uses a high speed, Firewire interface to deliver position and velocity motion updates to Aerotech's Intelligent Network Drives (NDrive®). Each NDrive independently processes loop closure or step and direction information for each axis avoiding the processing bottleneck associated with hardware based single processor control systems. Motion control is tightly synchronised and is fully deterministic with no system degradation as the number of axes increase.
The NDrive range of digital servo drives have high performance, 20Khz position, velocity and current loop update rates and can be supplied in stand alone or rack mounted configuration. All drives come complete with local I/O and an optional 10/100 BaseT Ethernet interface which may be used add third party I/O and PLC's if required. The A3200 also includes extensive system commissioning tools for servo tuning and system analysis.
The new brochure illustrates the cost benefit of the A3200 in comparison to traditional hardware based systems such as PCI card expansion solutions. With the added expense of a breakout module and the requirement for complex multiple cable interfacing to drives and feedback encoders, hardware based controllers are inherently more expensive to purchase and install than the software only distributed control types. The A3200's simple Firewire network architecture and its plug and play capability significantly reduce the cost of system commissioning and lifecycle maintenance.
The brochure has detailed sections on all the component parts of the A3200 Digital Automation Platform including Nmotion® SMC- software motion controller, Nview® HMI - Human Machine Interface, Nlogic® PLC - Programmable Logic Controller, Nvision® VCM - Vision Control Module and Ncontrol® SDK - Software Development Kit. Also included is a section on the Aero VI - Virtual Instruments module for LabVIEW® environment.
The brochure has also provided an opportunity to highlight the full family of Aerotech's NDrive range of servo drives. Both PWM and Linear amplifier solutions are available with sinusoidal commutation and onboard encoder multiplication. Five individual ranges are offered to suit a wide selection of cost vs. performance requirements in stand-alone or 6-axis rack mounted format with peak current ratings from 80 VDC at 10 A up to 320 VDC at 100A. Some NDrives can also be configured in open loop "step and direction" mode for stepper motors. There are also details of the NServo® and Nstep® drive solutions which allow the A3200 to be interfaced with existing drives in older Aerotech supplied or other manufacturer's motion systems to bring all the benefits of the A3200 without the capital cost associated with replacing servo or stepper drives.
The SoloistTM is also featured: This network ready, single axis drive and motion controller may be used in single or multi axis applications with Ethernet configurability and with other field bus options available.
Finally the brochure provides an invaluable overview of Aerotech's wide range of direct-drive linear and rotary positioning solutions along with company background information for this ISO9001 registered designer and manufacturer of low cost of ownership automation solutions.
The new brochure complements Aerotech's Resource Guide CD which is packed with over 500 pages of detailed specification and reference information for its complete range of motion control and positioning systems.
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